In March we are planning on taking a trip to Seattle. So we will be flying from Florida to Washington which will make for a long day. Isaac will be 6 months old by then and this will be his first plane ride. For those of you that have travelled with baby by plane, do you have any tips? I'm kind of nervous about it since I don't know how he will react. He I normally a pretty easy going baby so I'm hoping I'm scared for nothing.
BFP#1 7/23/12 EDD 4/1/13. MMC discovered on 9/4/12 at 10w1d. BFP#2 3/9/13 EDD 11/12/13. Natural MC on 3/16/13 at 5w3d BFP#3 12/24/13 EDD 9/5/14. Our Rainbow baby was born on 9/4/14!
We did a 2 day road trip when Tate was 7 weeks, and had a connecting flight from Dallas to Toronto when he was 8 months. In addition to being as organized as possible, I tried to keep him on his schedule at that time.
On the drive, I pumped a lot, and used the Medela accessory wipes when I couldn't get hot water. They were handy. On the flight, Tate was drinking formula, and I bought the steri- bottles (Amazon) to throw away after each use. With the sensor facets making washing impossible, these things were awesome.
I tried to time his bottles with take off and landing, but it was difficult with connections. He did quite well, and his ears seemed ok with the binky in his mouth. I made a little tent, and he slept both legs of the trip, and climbed on DH and I, and smacked the window a little when he was awake. People around us commented how good he was, but even if he wasn't, I could only do my best to keep my son comfortable. Babies cry. I had planned on getting earplugs for my neighbors, but just got too insanely busy.
I was fortunate to have alot of gear on location, so I did not have a stroller at the airport, and used my ergo. Security did not ask me to remove him, and I don't do X-ray, so I expected to. Security told me they are pretty good about baby food, milk ect beyond the 3oz, but it is just easier if you can make formula/ pump ect, on the other side.
Have lots of clean soothers in case you drop one, lots of surface wipes, hand wipes, extra zip lock bags, diapers, oragel if teething, gripe water, changes of clothes. Even a shirt for you in case of spit up. We had to change a couple of diapers on a mat on the floor at our gate even though they have stations in the restroom. (Bathrooms are crowded!) It did help to have DH there as a second set of hands. I will add anything else that comes up...
Post by bootsorhearts on Feb 4, 2015 11:50:48 GMT -5
We've taken our Isaac on two trips, one at 9 months and one at 11 or so. He was really just fine. We gave him a bottle and/or binky at take-off for his ears and mostly the motion at take-off put him to sleep. If he was awake, he amused himself playing peek a boo with other passengers on the plane. The flight attendant made a joke one time about one of the other passengers being our babysitter because he was having so much fun playing with him. So yeah we were worried but it was all fine. There was very little if any crying and thankfully no inflight poops!!!
BFP#1 7/23/12 EDD 4/1/13. MMC discovered on 9/4/12 at 10w1d. BFP#2 3/9/13 EDD 11/12/13. Natural MC on 3/16/13 at 5w3d BFP#3 12/24/13 EDD 9/5/14. Our Rainbow baby was born on 9/4/14!
I flew several times with DS during the 4-8 months age, sometimes with help and sometimes without. I found it really helpful to be able to wear him and push the stroller around (loaded up with diaper bag and carry on and all my other junk). You can check with the airline to see what their restrictions are--some let you check the stroller and carseat for free, others charge you if you also have other carry-ons. I'd recommend using the bucket and snap and go frame, if you have one, because then if there's an extra seat, they'll let you install the bucket on the flight (at a window seat, usually). Even if you don't strap your baby into the seat, that's a SUPER hand place to stash the puffs, wipes, bottles, etc. for easy access during the flight. If there isn't an empty seat, you can pack the seat into one of these handy bags, if you plan on traveling a lot, and gate check it: link
I also grabbed a few cheap toys that would have some novelty, but he mostly wanted to stare at the row behind us, nap, or play with the magazines. Looking back on it now, some of those little pom pom balls that craft stores have would be a great activity. Put them in the barf bag, take them out! Put them in, take them out! NBD if they fell, because they wouldn't really roll anywhere. Bending over to pick something up off the plane floor isn't the easiest maneuver even without a baby on your lap!
Lots of wipes, lots of pacifiers, lots of activity at the gate to wear him out. And snacks for you. Lots of snacks for you. Have fun!
BFP#1 7/23/12 EDD 4/1/13. MMC discovered on 9/4/12 at 10w1d. BFP#2 3/9/13 EDD 11/12/13. Natural MC on 3/16/13 at 5w3d BFP#3 12/24/13 EDD 9/5/14. Our Rainbow baby was born on 9/4/14!
I flew from Syracuse to McAllen TX when B was 4 months with 2 layovers. By myself. Definitely baby wear and a nursing pillow to give your arms a break. Gate check your car seat and stroller and use it to push around all your stuff. Change him and pee yourself on the ground if you have any layovers and save eating and sleeping for in the air if you can. The airline staff was amazing in all the airports a d helped me get all my stuff through security on both ends. Also I know they let people with small children board first, but don't do it. Then your stuck in a seat with a baby unable to move so board last!
Post by dragonfly1809 on Feb 6, 2015 8:50:53 GMT -5
This is all very helpful! Thanks! We are planning to fly to Australia sometime in the coming months and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the trip. We've done it a bazillion times (DH is Australian) and it's not an easy trip even on our own. I've never travelled with a baby, so I'm looking for all the advice I can find.
Then Comes Family, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.